REDLAND CITY COUNCIL 2018-19 BUDGET A BOOST FOR ISLANDS!

The Southern Moreton Bay Island Translink levy will end in December 2018 as part of a Redland City Council budget that also provides for the initial stages of Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek parking and development project.

The 2018-19 budget sees substantial allocations for island communities, including the continuation of the Green Seal road program.

“As promised, the Translink levy will end on 31 December 2018, fulfilling the commitment made by Council when we promised to bring Translink services to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands in 2013,’’ Cr Williams said.

“This levy was designed to establish the Translink service for the bay islands and it has done its job with about 1400 trips a day on the service.

“Council has kept its word and now it is over to Translink to maintain all the benefits residents have enjoyed once the agreement expires. I will be writing to the Minister to make it clear the Redlands community expects them to honour the commitment they made in 2013 by keeping this service in place so our SMBI residents are connected to the rest of South East Queensland.”

The budget includes $3.1 million for Redland Bay’s Weinam Creek transport and parking project.

“Council is planning to borrow funds to make the Weinam Creek project happen as it is a significant intergenerational project for our city and will open our foreshores and Moreton Bay to tourism and recreation,’’ Cr Williams said.

“At the same time we are banging on the State Government’s door and urging it to fulfill its responsibility for funding the marine infrastructure that the islands need.

“This would then allow us to invest in intergenerational projects such as Weinam Creek. The alternative to the State Government funding marine public transport is that the city – and that means ratepayers – will have to pay more.

“Managing the 335km of coastline which the Redlands Coast is known for, is expensive and the type of investment required is beyond the means of a modest council such as Redlands. We cannot continue to be the only council of our size that pays for such marine transport projects which are the responsibility of the state.”

The budget also commits to continuing the successful Green Seal road program on the islands.

“We have given priority to residents’ wishes for island roads to be sealed faster,’’ Cr Williams said.

The islands’ Rural Fire Brigade Special Charge remains at $20 per annum to buy and maintain equipment and provide a fire service to island properties.

“The budget also includes $240,000 for Southern Moreton Bay Islands fire management compliance to minimise the risk to residents and property from the impacts of bushfire,” Cr Williams said.

The charge for the islands’ standard 240l waste and recycling bins will increase $30.90 a year, the same as for the mainland.